FRINGE REVIEW – Time For Fun, Hand Made Theatre – Assembly Roxy

Twenty hands make light work in Hand Made Theatre’s Time For Fun, an utterly charming and uplifting performance of hand and arm-based mime.

Hailing from St Petersburg, the ten black-clad performers take the stage with an exuberant burst of energy, before literally rolling up their sleeves to create a captivating – and quite unique – magical world.

Wonderfully choreographed, hands and arms interlock and entwine to create trains, sailboats, ticking clocks, flocks of birds and more. With clever lighting design, the limbs appear to have a life of their own, dancing in space and assembling themselves into recognisable and cleverly-realised shapes and words.

The audience are captivated throughout, with gasps of delight from adults and children alike. Although a couple of the more abstract interpretative sequences are less effective than the others, the performers’ skill is undeniable: as is their infectious joy in their own creations.

The hour-long show consists of a series of vignettes and routines. A tribute to Scotland and Edinburgh, with floating arm sculpture of bagpipes, Nessie and a highland dancer is brilliant and quite touching; and – as promised by the show’s title – great fun.

An ideal show for families, or for anyone looking for one of those international hidden gems the Fringe can so often hide within its programme, making time for this show is a decision you will unlikely regret.

Time For Fun is at the Assembly Roxy until 27 August, 1430-1530. Ticket details are on the Fringe website.